The Cuckoo. | AY 
sparrow in the home, they all share the same fate. 
This accomplished, the Cuckoo takes full possession 
of the nest, leaving the baby birds to perish on the 
ground, 
The number of eggs laid by the Cuckoo is not 
known, as it deposits but one egg in a nest, which is 
believed to be “laid on the ground,” and carried by 
the bird in its mouth to some nest chosen for the pur- 
pose : it has been known to be found in such nests as 
the wren’s. A friend of mine found an egg in a reed- 
warbler’s nest, where it would be quite impossible for 
this bird to enter and accomplish its design. The 
conveying of the egg could be easily contrived, as 
the gape of the Cuckoo is quite large enough for that 
purpose without injury tothe egg. Of all our common 
British birds, we have not another that lays such a 
small egg when compared with the size of the bird. 
This Nature has wisely ordained ; for if the egg of the 
~Cuckoo were much larger, most probably it would be 
noticed by the small bird, and cause it to forsake its 
nest; or, if not, the heat of the hedge sparrow might 
not be sufficient to hatch it, even if it wished to do so. 
Siem tien, is toe mature on the Cuckoo; and) on 
account of its two notes, which are so well known by 
